An off duty police officer and paramedic who stopped to help at the scene of a major car fire on the M11 were sprayed in the face with an unknown substance, police have said.

The off duty members of the emergency services had joined other 'good Samaritans' in trying to help when a stolen car was involved in a serious collision with a lorry on the M11 near Chigwell and Loughton - past Stansted Airport - on Friday (July 28) at around 7pm.

Police had been alerted only 10 minutes earlier that the blue VW Golf had been stolen from outside a shop on Queens Road, Buckhurst Hill.

The victim, a man in his 20s, reported that one of the men held a knife in his hand.

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Two ambulance crews, a rapid response vehicle and response car from Essex and Herts Air Ambulance were dispatched to the scene.

Both men sprayed with the substance were taken to hospital for further care.

Their conditions are not believed to be serious or life-threatening. The driver of the lorry was uninjured.

Kevin Brown, Director of Service Delivery at The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST), said: “This unprovoked attack on two Good Samaritans who were trying to help at the scene of a road traffic collision is deplorable.

“Sadly they were in the wrong place at the wrong time and we wish them a speedy recovery.”

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The crash caused disruption to drivers, but the lane reopened later that evening following forensic recovery of the vehicles.

One suspect was described as Asian, and between 25 to 30 years old. He had a dark beard, and was wearing a baseball cap, a navy blue buttoned top, and dark coloured bottoms. He also had a small, black leather bag with him.

The other suspect was described as white, with short dark hair. He was wearing a khaki coloured jumper and jogging bottoms and was thought to be between 20 and 25 years old.

Chief Superintendent Luke Collison said: “This was an shocking incident, and we have launched a significant investigation to track down the suspects and bring them to justice.